Portable steam generator



Aug. 6, 1935. w s cK 2,010,331

PORTABLE STEAM GENERATOR Filed March 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l I III s w i #wavrom it'll. LIAM H. 5T4 Rfi/CK.

A): ATTORNEY I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm Q R Rm w. H. STARRICK Filed March 2, 1954 PORTABLE STEAM GENERATOR m N l Aug. e, 1935.

//V VA N TOR. i /ALIA H 5 TAPE/C v Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE PGRTABLE STEAM GENERATOR William H. Starrick, Springfield, Ohio Application March 2, 1934, Serial No. 713,642 15 Claims. (01. 219-39) This invention relates to a portable steam generator and more particularly to an electrically heated instantaneous steam generator.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and eilicient steam generator of light weight, which can be easily carried from place to place and which may, if desired, be supported by the hand of the operator while in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam generator of small compact form and having a relatively long continuous passageway so arranged with relation to the heating element that water delivered thereto will be converted into steam before it is. discharged therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a steam generator in which the steam will be superheated prior to its discharge from the generator.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a steam generator having means for mixing and atomizing the water and vapor as they pass through the same, to expedite the com-- plete vaporization thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a steam generator having a thin substantially fiat heater of such a character that it will not be distorted or otherwise injured by the action of the heat.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a steam gen rator in which the electrical connections are carried by the heater, thereby avoiding any disarrangement or injury of the connections when the generator is disassembled for cleaning or repair.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a top plan View of a steam generator embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a section taken between the upper member and the heater or intermediate member and showing the intermediate member partially broken away; Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the generator taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 8-43 of Fig. 3; Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 'i! of Fig. 3, with the intermediate portion of the body broken away; and Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3, and partially broken away. I

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as comprising a relatively thin fiat body consisting of an upper member If a lower member H and an intermediate member or heater l2. The three members are of substantially the same length and width and are arranged face 5 to face and rigidly connected one to the other,

as by means of bolts !3. The upper member I9 is provided in its inner surface with longitudinal grooves M and I5 forming channels which extend for approximately the full length of the body 10 of the generator. The lower member H is provided in its inner face with longitudinal grooves 16 and il, also forming channels and extending for substantially the full length of the body of the generator and arranged directly beneath the corresponding channels M and ii in the upper member. The inner sides of the several channels are closed by the intermediate member or heater so that this heater forms the inner wall of each channel. The joints between the upper and low- 20 or members and the heater are packed, as shown at E8, to prevent leakage. The several channels are connected one to the other, as will be hereinafter described, to provide a single continuous passageway through the body of the generator, the length of which is, due to the connecting means, slightly greater than the combined length of the four channels.

The body of the generator is provided with a handle l9 by means of which it may be carried from place to place or supported by the hand of the operator while it is in use, and, as here shown, this handle is rigidly secured to and arranged substantially centrally ol the top member 10. The continuous passageway through the body is provided at its respective ends with an inlet for water and an outlet for steam and in the arrangement here shown the inlet 20 and the outlet 2! are connected respectively with the channels hi and E5, in the upper member I8, near one end of the body. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the inlet with a source of supply for water under pressure but this means preferably comprises a valve 22 by means of which the flow of water to the passageway may be regulated. In the present construction the body of the valve is provided with a nipple 23 by means or" which it may be connected with a flexible conduit leading to a faucet or other source of water supply. Th outlet 2i may 5 be provided with any suitable means for delivering the steam to the point where it is to be used and, in the present construction, this outlet is provided with a nipple 24 for connecting the outlet with a. flexible conduit 25, which may be 55 provided with any suitable attachment for utilizing the steam. As shown in Fig. 2 this discharge line or conduit is provided with a nozzle 28 designed primarily for softening and removing old grease from a gear casing or the like. It will be obvious, however, that the steam may be used for any desired purpose, such as thawing out a frozen radiator on an automobile, or removing wall paper, and the attachment would, of course, be of a nature adapted for the use to which the steam is to be put.

The upper channels it and i5 are respectively connected with the lower channels it and El near that end of the generator opposite the inlet and outlet and the lower channels it and ll are connected one to the other near the other end of the generator by a transverse passageway 2']. Thus the water will enter the upper channel M through the inlet, will pass therefrom to the lower channel then from the channel it to the lower channel ii, then to the upper channel 45 and to the outlet, and throughout its travel in this continuous passageway it will be in contact with the heater. The connection between the corresponding upper and lower channels may be of any suitable character but I prefer that these connections shall be of such a character as to mix the water with such vapor as may have been formed in the preceding channel or channels and to discharge the mixture in the form of a spray, or atomized, into'tne succeeding channel, thus greatly facilitating the further conversion of the water into steam. In the particular construction illustrated the body of the generator is provided with openings 2s and 29 extending through the three members and communicating respectively with the channels it and and the channels is and ill, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Mounted in each of these openings is a connecting device which is provided with a longitudinal bore or passageway and with relatively small ports to connect the ends of this passageway with the upper and lower channels respectively. As here shown, the connecting device comprises two parts, one of which is provided with a head 36, which is seated in the enlarged end of the opening and with an annular flange 3! which extends into the opening and forms a socket having interior screw threads. This socket has, adjacent to the. head 38, a plurality of small radial ports 32 which communicate with one of the channels, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 these ports communicate with the lower channel ill. The other part of the connecting device also comprises ahead, 33, seated in an enlarged end of the opening, and a stem the inner end of which is screw threaded and is adapted tobe screwed into the socket 35 of the first mentioned part. The length of this stem is such that when the two parts are connected the stem will not close the ports 32 in the socket 3% but will leave a small chamber in that socket with which the ports communicate. The stem has a longitudinal bore 35 which is connected by a series of radial ports 36 with the upper channel i5. Thus the water and vapors will enter one end of the connecting device through the small ports and will be mixed in the bore 35 and then discharged, under pressure, through the small ports at the other end of the device in the form of a spray.

I also prefer to arrange in each of the longitudinal channels a body of loose material which will be heated by the heater and with which substantially all parts of the water and vapor will contact. Preferably this body of material, which is shown at 37, consists of a series of folds of fine mesh bronze fabric and is of a size to substantially fill the channel. This fabric being in contact with the heater will be heated thereby and the water and vapor passing through the fabric will contact with the several heated strands thereof and will be highly heated thereby. While such a body of loose material tends to increase the efficiency of the steam generator it is not necessary to its operation and satisfactory results may be secured with open channels.

The intermediate member or heater i2 preferably comprises two flat plates rigidly connected one to the other, as by means of screws 38. The adjacent faces of these plates are of such a shape as to provide the same with longitudinal parallel recesses 39 arranged between the corresponding upper and lower channels and these longitudinal recesses are connected, adjacent to the inlet end of the generator, by a transverse recess :38. The parallel recesses are separated by intermediate portions or projections ii which preferably are in the form of ribs extending for substantially the full length of the recesses and which are in contact one with the other to properly space the central portions of the plates one from the other and these ribs are rigidly connected one to the other, as by screws. Thus both the edge portions and the intermediate portions of the two plates are rigidly braced one against the other and there is little likelihood of the heater being distorted or otherwise injured by the action of the heat thereon. Mounted in the recesses so and 39 is an electrical heating element 42, which may be of any suitable construction and as here shown is relatively thin and fiat and is insulated from the plates, as shown at 33. This heater is provided at one end, preferably the end opposite the water inlet, with a suitable device for connecting the heating element 12 with a source of electric current. The connecting device may be of any suitable character and as here shown the respective ends of the heating element are connected by conductors iEa with pins it which are arranged between and insulated from the two plates of the heater. The outer ends of the pins Ml extend beyond the adjacent end of the body of the generator and are adapted to receive a detachable connector. Preferably the body of the generator is provided 'with a socket to receivean ordinary plug connector and the ends of the pins M extend into this socket. The socket may be provided in any suitable manner but I prefer that the socket shall be carried by the heater itself and I have therefore shown the two plates of the heater as having relatively narrow portions extending beyond the ends thereof and enlarged, as shown at 55, to form between them a socket lii into which the pins 45 extend. By thus mounting the entirely electrical connector, including the pins and the socket, on the heater itself I avoid any disarrangement of or injury to the connections when the generator is disassembled for the purpose of cleaning or repairs, and it is seldom necessary to open the heater itself.

The operation of the generator will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that the water entering the continuous passageway at the inlet end thereof is so regulated by the valve as to provide for the delivery of a quantity of water which can be fully vaporized by the generator and as this water travels through the passageway the water and such steam as has been generated, are, at

two points in its travel mixed together and then atomized, so that before the fluid reaches the outlet or discharge line it has been fully vaporized and the vapor or steam has been highly heated so as to produce superheated steam which may be used for any desired purpose. The generator is also shown as provided with a steam gage 41 near the outlet end of the passageway to indicate the pressure developed within the generator.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a portable steam generator, a heater comprising a relatively thin metallic member and an electrical heating element within and insulated from said member, top and bottom members rigidly secured to the respective sides of said heater member, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to form a channel extending for substantially the full length of said members and on both sides of said heater member, means for connecting one end of said channel with a source of supply for water and for connecting the other end of said channel with a discharge line, means for regulating the flow of water through said channel, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electricity.

2. In a portable steam generator, a heater comprising a relatively thin metallic member and an electrical heating element within and insulated from said member, top and bottom members rigidly secured to the respective sides of said heater member, said top and bottom members each having its inner surface provided with longitudinal channels, the inner sides of which are closed by said heater member, means for connecting the channels in said top member with the corresponding channels in said bottom member near one end of said generator, the channels in one of said members being provided near the other end of said generator respectively with an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, and the channels in the other member being connected one with the other near the last mentioned end of said generator, thereby forming a continuous passageway from said inlet to said outlet, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electricity.

3. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, said pasageway having at one end an inlet for water and at its other end an outlet for steam, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electricity.

4. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, said passageway having at one end an inlet for water and at its other end an outlet for steam, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and a connector carried by said intermediate member for connecting said heating element with a source of electricity.

5. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous pasageway, said passageway having at one end an inlet for water and at its other end an outlet for steam, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, said intermediate member having a part forming a socket, and connecting devices having electrical connection with said heating element and extending into said socket.

6. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, said passageway having at one end an inlet for water and at its other end an outlet for steam, said intermediate member comprising two plates arranged face to face and shaped to provide a recess between them, an electrical heating element arranged in said recess and insulated from said plates, and connecting devices arranged between said plates, electrically connected with said heating element and extending outwardly beyond the edge of said intermediate member.

7. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, said passageway having at one end an inlet for water and at its other end an outlet for steam, said intermediate member comprising two plates arranged face to face and shaped to provide a recess between them and to form a socket at one end of said member, an electrical heating element arranged in said recess and insulated from said plates, and connecting devices arranged between said plates, electrically connected with said heating element and extending into said socket.

8. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, said passageway having at one end an inlet for water and at its other end an outlet for steam, said intermediate member comprising two plates arranged face to face and provided with longitudinal and transverse grooves arranged to form a substantially U-shaped recess between them, said plates having portions between said longitudinal grooves contacting one with the other to space apart the adjacent portions of said plates, an electrical heating element arranged in faces shaped to provide said U-shaped recess and insulated from said plates, and connecting devices arranged between said plates, electrically connected with said heating element and extending outwardly beyond the edge of said intermediate member.

9. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, said passageway having at one end an inlet for water'and at its other end an outlet for steam, said intermediate member comprising two plates arranged face to face and provided with longitudinal and transverse grooves arranged to form a substantially U-shaped recess between them, said plates having portions between said longitudinal grooves contacting one with the other to space apart the adjacent portions of said plates, said plates also having at one end thereof parts shaped to form a socket, an electrical heating element arranged in said U- shaped recess and insulated from said plates, and connecting devices arranged between said plates, electrically connected with said heating element and extending into said socket.

10. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected'on'e tothe other, said members having their adjacent surchannels on-the respective sides of said intermediate member, means to connect said channels to form a continuous passageway and to mix and atomize the liquid and vapor as they pass from one channel to the other, said passageway-having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electric current.

11. In a portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an inter.- mediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on the respective sides or" said intermediate member, a device for connecting said channels to form a continuous passageway, said device having abore extending lengthwise thereof and having ports to connect the respective ends of said bore with said channels, said passageway having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and means for com necting said heating element with a source or" electric current.

12. In a portable steam generator, 21; body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly conn-ectedone to the other, said members having their adjacent sur faces shaped to provide channels on the respective sides of said intermediate member, said body having an opening extending through said members and communicating with said channels, a device to connect said channels to form a continuous passageway, said connecting device comprising two parts inserted insaid opening'ircm the opposite sides of said body and connected one to the other, one of said parts having a longitudinal bore and both parts having relatively small radial ports to connect said bore with the respective channels, said passageway having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, an electri'cal heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electric current.

13. In a'portable steam generator, a body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members having their adjacent surfaces shaped to provide channels on the respective sides of said intermediate member, said body havingan opening extending through said members and communicating with said channels, a device to connect said channels to form a continuous passageway, said connecting device comrising a part extending into one end of said opening and having a socket provided with internal screw threads, and radial ports communicating with one of said channels, and a second part extending into the other end of said opening and having a stem provided with a longitudinal bore and radial ports communicating with the other of said channels, said stem also having a screw threaded portion to engage the threads of the first mentioned part, said passageway having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electric current.

-14. In a portable steam generator, a body com-- pri ng upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said members'having their adjacent sursh ccd to provide channels on both sides of said intermediate member, said channels being connected one with the other to form a continuous passageway, means for connecting one end of passageway with a source of supply of water under pressure and for regulating the delivery of water thereto, means for connecting the other end of said passageway with a flexible discharge line, a steam applying device connected with said discharge line, an electrical heating element arranged within and insulated from said intermediate member, and means for connecting said heating element with a source of electricity.

15. In a portable steam generator, an elongated body comprising upper and lower members and an intermediate member rigidly connected one to the other, said upper and lower members each having in its inner surface two longitudinal chan nels, the inner sides of which are closed by said intermediate member, means for connecting the corresponding upper and lower channels one with the other near one end of said body and for mixing and atomizing the water andvapor passing through the same, the lower channels'being connected one with the other near the other end of said body and the upper channels having, respectively, an inlet for water and an outlet for steam near the last mentioned end of said body, said intermediate member comprising two plates arranged face to face and having their adjacent faces shaped to form between them longitudinal recesses arranged between the corresponding upper and lower channels, said plates having at one end of said intermediate member parts forming a socketQa-n electrical heating element arranged in said recesses, and connecting devices arranged between said plates, electrically connected with said heating element and extending into said socket.

7 WILLIAM H.- STARRICK. 

